By Sue Crawford

Last updated at 14:04, Thursday, 15 November 2012

A public exhibition is to be held over plans for a new housing estate in Dalston.

Ronnie Auld

Story Homes wants to build 128 homes on land at Walton’s market garden close to the centre of the village, near Carlisle.

The scheme, planned on fields between Station Road and Townhead Road, has gone out to Dalston parish council for consultation.

The parish council decided to hold the exhibition this Saturday in the Victory Hall to give villagers the chance to view the plans in detail.

Ronnie Auld is chairman of the working group set up by the parish council to look at the application. Under planning procedures the parish authority is being consulted by Carlisle City Council, which will make the final decision on the scheme.

Mr Auld said the parish council felt it was important that villagers had full information on the scheme.

He said: “We have no predetermined views as a council. We are looking at it dispassionately on behalf of the residents of Dalston.

“This is the biggest planning application in Dalston for a long time and represents a 26 per cent uplift in the housing stock of the village itself. Because of this it has to be looked at very carefully. We hope that many residents will take the opportunity to view the detailed plans for this housing proposal.”

Mr Auld said that during the event, residents will have the opportunity to record their views in writing. They will then be able to attend a future open meeting of the parish council at a date to be arranged.

He said the council had deferred making a response until after that meeting.

Mr Auld added: “We have also decided to select from a short list and appoint an independent town planning consultant to advise the parish council on planning policy, national and local planning guidance, and other matters of a specialised nature relating to this planning application.

“This would enable the parish council to properly represent the parish, provide fair and accurate information to all residents, and allow the council to submit a response to the application based on material planning considerations.”

When the plans were first revealed earlier this year Graham Parker, technical manager for Story Homes, said the design would respect the location and reflect Dalston’s character.

Story Homes believes that the scheme would support 60 jobs while the estate is built over four to five years. It hopes to start next summer.

The public exhibition will run between 9am and 3pm.

First published at 13:48, Thursday, 15 November 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk